COVID Quilting

When my summer started, I pulled out a box of big quilt tops sitting neglected, and set the goal of quilting them.  There were eight in all, and I am now quilting the seventh.  There is something calming about knowing my task, and just doing it.  Now that I’m back in-person at school, when I come home I try not to think about school, I sit down and quilt.  This goal has required perseverance, sometimes gritting my teeth; but it’s so satisfying as I finish each one.  I’m proud of this pile.

Teaching and learning through a mask is exhausting, and it’s easy to get lost in frustrations and fears; fears of pods that are not necessarily stable, with students often out sick.  But this last week, after someone came to squirt oil on the squeaky blower and the heat came on, in the calm and warmth we focused on our challenging task, engaged, persevering, feeling success, and I remembered why I love to teach. I now hold that in my mind as I quilt.

It feels good to get these quilt tops into circulation, some of them boxed up for over 10 years.  I’m clearing out my brain along with my sewing room, and I’m excited to gift these to people who will enjoy them.  Two of them are for me.  Yay!  I’ve been wanting a bed quilt with wool batting.

The other side of the picture shows I have a lot of binding in my future.  With two queen size quilts and several throws, my work continues.  But I don’t have to think, I know what needs doing.  I’ll be home on the sofa, snuggled under a quilt or two, stitching down binding with a pot of tea within reach.  Bring it on winter, flu, COVID fear and isolation; I’m ready!